Established guitarist and Berklee Graduate Lior Houminer has performed extensively between NYC and Boston, and has also been recently immersed in working as manager of a renowned wedding band.
We caught an interview with the rising creative, to find out more about his journey and approach to making a career out of music. Here’s how it went.
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Hi Lior – great to connect with you, thanks for the interview! Your music is wonderful, refreshingly organic and imaginative to relight contemporary instrumental jazz. Where did your journey first begin – who inspired your musical taste?
Thank you very much; it’s great talking with you.
My journey actually began in classical music, where I started playing the clarinet at a young age. I played as the first clarinet in the city’s leading orchestra, which I enjoyed tremendously. While immersed in classical music, I found myself drawn to rock music, especially bands like Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, and some Israeli rock as well. I was particularly captivated by the guitar in this music, which inspired me to start learning guitar alongside the clarinet.
My classical training has been a valuable addition to my musical skills, providing a strong foundation in sight-reading and precision. Later on, I decided to focus solely on the guitar, though I still enjoy playing the clarinet from time to time.
What made you ultimately choose guitar as your leading instrument?
I think classical music is very beautiful, and I enjoyed playing it on the clarinet, but rock music was my original passion and brought me much more excitement. Fun fact: I fell in love with the guitar after watching the movie Rock School!
“For me, the electric guitar became a gateway to rock and jazz, allowing me to express my emotions and desires on a deeper level.”
You’re a Berklee Graduate with an extensive performance background. In what ways did studying music enhance your ability to embrace the live performance side of things, and what was the biggest lesson you learned during those years?
I’ve always enjoyed live music much more than the studio experience, though the studio has its own charm. Live music is the rawest form of expression, without any filters—a way to express yourself in the moment and interact and react in real time with the music being created.
At Berklee, I had the privilege of learning from many great teachers about improvisation, interacting with band members in real time, and truly listening to one another, like having a conversation.
I’d say the biggest lesson I learned was how to be a better listener to my colleagues on stage and how to help make others sound and play better.
What’s been one of your most memorable experiences on stage so far?
We had a show in the old city of Jerusalem with my band, Pedro Grass, where we hosted three Arab rappers from Jerusalem to perform with us. It was a performance that brought Jews and Arabs together, and the crowd was very diverse—Hasidic Jews, Arabs, secular people—and the atmosphere was deeply emotional and spiritual. The show carried a sense of hope that people with differences can coexist and be friends
Tell me about the composition Just a Rainy Friday Morning – who wrote the music, and what does it take to connect a group of people to perform something this complex in a smooth and inviting way?
Just a Rainy Friday Morning is a composition I wrote for my own project, and it’s very close to me. It was written on a rainy Friday morning, which inspired the name, and I feel the music captures the energy of that atmosphere.
I enjoy composing music in different meters and aim to make it feel as if there’s no meter at all, with as much fluidity and naturalism as possible.
“I believe that when music tries to be sophisticated, it loses its purpose, but when complex music is delivered in a way that feels effortless to the listener, that’s the sweet spot I always try to reach.”
For this piece, the flute was essential to the instrumentation—an instrument I don’t usually write for, but it felt right for this song.
You’re also the manager of a wedding band – how does the admin and organisational side of music help you to understand the industry, and how does it compare to the purely creative side?
Managing a wedding band comes with a lot of responsibility. I’m in charge of the entertainment on one of the most important days in people’s lives. This role requires excellent people skills, both with the couple and the wedding planner, as well as with my band. I need to ensure that everyone is happy and that everything runs according to plan.
I also direct the band musically, and one thing that makes me stand out is my ability to create arrangements on the spot. I always try to innovate new ideas into existing and loved songs, which brings more excitement to the band, making them enjoy and play the song from a fresh perspective. A direct outcome of that is that the crowd reacts very well and enjoys it even more
What do you have planned for throughout 2025?
I’m planning to record some of my new music and release it. Producing and recording your own project can be challenging, especially when you’re a perfectionist with your own work. That said, I’ve already mapped out a plan and begun assembling the musicians I want to collaborate with. Rehearsals will start soon, and my goal is to release the music by the end of next year.
Is there anything else we should know?
I started producing on Logic Pro about a year ago. At first, it was just a hobby—something I could enjoy in my free time. Now, with more knowledge and experience, I’m producing more work and planning to take on new projects.
This experience has reminded me of how important it is to enjoy the process while learning something new. I’ve realized that you don’t always need to make tough, rigid commitments. If you do what you love with responsibility, it will come back to you in positive ways.
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